Gulf Regional Innovative Teaching Conference

You will be able to validate your attendance (Check-In to sessions) using your personal schedule.

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8:00am CDT

AMSTI K-2 Choral Counting & Counting Collections

Monday July 13, 2026 8:00am - 11:00am CDT

This 3-hour session focuses on the development of an understanding of numbers, and
providing the foundation for understanding place value. Participants will participate in
counting routines and explore one-to-one correspondence, rote count sequence,
counting on, cardinality, subitizing, and their implications in K-5 mathematics
classrooms.

Presenters

Jennifer Fagerstrom

AMSTI K-5 Math Mentoring Specialist, AMSTI

I am passionate about building educator confidence, strengthening instructional systems, and ensuring all students experience meaningful mathematics learning. My career has progressed from classroom teacher to building-based math coach to multi-district mathematics specialist, giving... Read More →

Monday July 13, 2026 8:00am - 11:00am CDT
Room D - 9th Grade Academy

Math

Level Elementary Teachers, Special Education

8:00am CDT

AMSTI K-5 Math Alabama Course of Study Training

Monday July 13, 2026 8:00am - 11:00am CDT

Room B - 9th Grade Academy

K-5 Mathematics Foundational Training session is a pre requisite for this session. This
3-hour session is a dive into the Alabama 2019 Course of Study: Mathematics where
participants will explore the conceptual framework of the ALCOS (four critical
components: Position Statements, Student Math Practices, Math Teaching Practices,
and the Alabama Content Standards). Participants will become familiar with the
structure of the ALCOS, discover themes and learning progressions, and uncover
connections and relationships between components that are critical for effective
elementary mathematics instruction.

Presenters

Candyce Tracy

AMSTI K-5 Math Mentoring Specialist, AMSTI

Monday July 13, 2026 8:00am - 11:00am CDT
Room B - 9th Grade Academy

Math

Level Elementary Teachers, Special Education

8:00am CDT

AMSTI K-5 Math Foundations Training

Monday July 13, 2026 8:00am - 3:00pm CDT

Room C - 9th Grade Academy

This 1-day session is a prerequisite for AMSTI K-5 math content area trainings. It
focuses on an overview of pedagogical strategies, the student and teacher math
practices, and the power of collective teacher efficacy. Participants will analyze
evidence of student understanding to inform planning of next instructional steps.

Presenters

Brooke Love

AMSTI K-5 Math Mentoring Specialist, AMSTI

Monday July 13, 2026 8:00am - 3:00pm CDT
Room C - 9th Grade Academy

Math

Level Elementary Teachers, Special Education

8:00am CDT

AMSTI NUMBERS 3-5 Fractions and Decimals (Day 1 of 3)

Monday July 13, 2026 8:00am - 3:00pm CDT

Room A - 9th Grade Academy

*Note: If you enroll in this session, you must attend ALL 3 full days of the sessions to receive credit.

This 3-day module focuses on fractional equivalence, fraction magnitude, operations, and the connection between fractional and decimal representation, and operations with decimals. Days 1 and 2 will highlight fractions and day 3 will highlight decimals.

Presenters

Andrea Robinson

AMSTI K-5 Math Mentoring Specialist, AMSTI

Becky Soumeillan

AMSTI Mentoring Specialist, AMSTI

Monday July 13, 2026 8:00am - 3:00pm CDT
Room A - 9th Grade Academy

Math

Level Elementary Teachers, Special Education

8:00am CDT

Math Foundational Training (6-12) (AMSTI - TEAMS approved)

Monday July 13, 2026 8:00am - 3:00pm CDT

Room E - 9th Grade Academy

This training is a prerequisite for AMSTI 6-12 Math Content Area Trainings. This one-day session focuses on providing an overview of pedagogical strategies, student mathematical practices, mathematics teaching practices and formative assessment cycle making connections among grade-band standards and strategies to the ALCOS. Participants will explore student-invented strategies, analyze evidence of student understanding to inform planning of next instructional steps, discuss the importance of sense-making, and explore the impact of concrete, semi-concrete, and abstract learning opportunities on the development of conceptual understanding.

Presenters

Emily Black

Math Specialist, AMSTI

Monday July 13, 2026 8:00am - 3:00pm CDT
Room E - 9th Grade Academy

Math

Level All Teachers, Middle Teachers, High Teachers

8:00am CDT

Who's the Middleman: Area Models (Grades 3-8) (AMSTI - TEAMS approved)

Monday July 13, 2026 8:00am - 3:00pm CDT

Room F - 9th Grade Academy

This one-day session focuses on developing area models from upper elementary
through middle school grades. Participants will experience the foundation of area
models and how they can be extended through middle school math concepts.
Participants will practice using area models with hands-on manipulatives and materials
through applications of multiplication, division, fractions, geometry, percents, and
probability.

Presenters

Teressa Rocker

AMSTI Specialist, AMSTI

Monday July 13, 2026 8:00am - 3:00pm CDT
Room F - 9th Grade Academy

Math

Level Elementary Teachers, Middle Teachers, High Teachers

10:00am CDT

MagicSchool Teacher Level 1: From First Login to First Win: Building a Strong MagicSchool Rollout for Back to School

Monday July 13, 2026 10:00am - 10:50am CDT

Room 92

New to MagicSchool? This beginner-friendly, level one training session for teachers is designed to help you hit the ground running. Learn how to use MagicSchool to quickly generate lesson plans, differentiate instruction, support diverse learners, and streamline everyday tasks. Walk away with simple, high-impact workflows you can use immediately—no prior experience required.

Presenters

Destinie Thomas

Professional Learning and Community Engagement Specialist, MagicSchool AI

Destinie Thomas is a Professional Learning and Community Engagement Specialist at MagicSchool, where she helps educators discover how AI can make teaching more joyful, efficient, and equitable. She has spent her career creating engaging learning experiences—whether coaching teachers... Read More →

Monday July 13, 2026 10:00am - 10:50am CDT
Room 92

Digital Citizenship ELA ELL Math Reading Science Social Studies Technology

Level All Teachers, Elementary Teachers, Middle Teachers, High Teachers, Career Tech Teachers, Librarians, Special Education

10:00am CDT

Low Tech/Know Tech: Powerful Lessons Unplugged

Monday July 13, 2026 10:00am - 10:50am CDT

Room 202

When you KNOW tech, a powerful lesson doesn't have to be designed around a device! This session is intended to showcase low-tech and no-tech strategies that spark curiosity, plug into creativity, and power up engagement without sticking students behind a Chromebook. Sometimes, less really is more, and this session is intended to show you how with easy-to-implement ideas that are fun for both your students and you, the teacher!

Presenters

Jaime Tillman

Curriculum Leader, Daphne Middle School

Alyssa Abdeltif

Teacher, Baldwin Preparatory Academy

Monday July 13, 2026 10:00am - 10:50am CDT
Room 202

ELA eMINTS Math Reading Science Social Studies

Level All Teachers, Career Tech Teachers, Counselors, Librarians, Special Education

10:00am CDT

Mathematical Practices and Gizmos

Monday July 13, 2026 10:00am - 10:50am CDT

Room 253

This workshop is designed to help participants deepen their understanding of the Standards for Mathematical Practice and learn to develop effective lessons grounded in the standards. These lessons will allow students to go beyond memorizing facts, formulas, and mnemonics and instead focus on developing a deep conceptual understanding of underlying principles. Teachers build skills to engage students and advance mathematical understanding through the Standards of Mathematical Practice. Participants review grade-appropriate content standards and collaborate on potential teaching strategies to achieve student understanding. Participants also work collaboratively to identify mathematical tasks to develop students' capacity to meet the Standards of Mathematical Practice.

Presenters

Tiffany Christian

Professional Learning Manager, ExploreLearning

Tiffany Christian is a Professional Learning Manager with ExploreLearning serving the East Coast region. She has over 23 years of experience in educational technology and public education as a gifted math and science teacher, an academic coach, district K-12 science instructional... Read More →

Monday July 13, 2026 10:00am - 10:50am CDT
Room 253

Math

Level Middle Teachers, High Teachers

10:00am CDT

Every Student Engaged, Every Lesson--A Taste of Kagan Cooperative Learning

Monday July 13, 2026 10:00am - 11:50am CDT

Room 271

This session is a dynamic, hands-on session designed to give teachers, district leaders, and school leaders a firsthand look at the power of Kagan Cooperative Learning. Led by a certified Kagan trainer, participants will experience first-hand the power of structuring learning intentionally. Come learn how to transform student engagement by replacing Call On One with structures that engage EVERY learner.

Presenters

Aaron Diaz

Director of Implementation Support, Kagan Publishing and Professional Development

Dr. Aaron Diaz has served as a bus driver, coach, teacher, assistant principal, and principal. He is passionate about improving pedagogy, teacher support, community engagement, relationshipbuilding, and strategic planning—especially through the use of Kagan Cooperative Learning... Read More →

Monday July 13, 2026 10:00am - 11:50am CDT
Room 271

Arts Community Building ELA ELL Math Reading Science Social Studies

Level Administrators, Central Office, All Teachers, Special Education

10:00am CDT

From Grip to Growth: Fine Motor Skills that Power Classroom Success in K-1

Monday July 13, 2026 10:00am - 12:00pm CDT

Room 268

Fine motor development is a critical foundation for writing, independence, and overall classroom success in primary grades. Research shows a strong correlation between fine motor skills and various aspects of language and cognitive development, highlighting their significance in early education. Additionally, proficient handwriting is linked to later academic achievement, underscoring the importance of nurturing fine motor skills throughout childhood. Participants will explore developmentally appropriate, classroom-ready activities that strengthen hand muscles, improve pencil control, and build coordination—all using materials commonly found in primary classrooms. Teachers will leave with practical strategies they can implement immediately to support young learners in building the fine motor strength and confidence they need for success.

Presenters

Mandi Boyd

Hand2Mind Rep, Hand2Mind

Kayla Benak

Hand2Mind Educational Consultant, Hand2Mind

Monday July 13, 2026 10:00am - 12:00pm CDT
Room 268

ELA Math

Level Elementary Teachers

10:00am CDT

Math Talk That Works: Building Language into Every Math Lesson in K-6

Monday July 13, 2026 10:00am - 12:00pm CDT

Room 20

English learners have to juggle learning math and a new language at the same time. In this session, we’ll look at easy, practical ways to weave language supports into your daily math routines using the WIDA language standards. Walk away with ready-to-use strategies and examples to boost both math and language learning.

Presenters

Danielle White

ALSDE ESL Education Specialist, ALSDE ESL Department, Region 10

Monday July 13, 2026 10:00am - 12:00pm CDT
Room 20

ELL Math

Level Elementary Teachers

11:00am CDT

Unlock the Power of Kami

Monday July 13, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am CDT

Room 254

Join us to discover how Kami empowers every learner by turning everyday lessons into interactive experiences. During this hands-on session, we will explore the tools together and learn how to easily enhance lessons you are already teaching in the classroom. You'll leave with ideas that will support students throughout the learning journey and make student engagement soar.

Presenters

Janet Burnett

Teaching & Learning Coordinator, Book Creator/Kami

Janet Burnett is a Teaching & Learning Coordinator for Kami and Book Creator, but also a lifelong educator. With 28 years of experience in education as a teacher and Technology Specialist, she is passionate about helping teachers “power-up” daily lessons while bringing joy to... Read More →

Monday July 13, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am CDT
Room 254

Assessment Community Building ELA ELL Math Reading Science Social Studies Technology

Level All Teachers, Librarians, Special Education

11:00am CDT

Using Amplify to Facilitate Visual Patterns, Number Talks, and Problem Solving in the Secondary Mathematics Classroom

Monday July 13, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am CDT

Room 93

This session is primarily tailored for 6-12 math teachers but benefit can be found for all math educators with some modifications for earlier grades. We will use Amplify to focus on warmups that involve visual patterns and number talks that help students to connect visual patterns to their mathematical expressions. The number talks will help students develop numeracy skills and compare their ways of thinking with their peers to help them learn to work flexibly and efficiently with numbers. These tasks will be easy for students to start but encourage deeper thinking and can lead to deeper understanding of more advanced solutions.

Presenters

Ashley Burton

Secondary Mathematics and Computer Science Teacher, Robertsdale High School

Monday July 13, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am CDT
Room 93

Differentiation Math STEM/STEAM Technology

Level Middle Teachers, High Teachers

11:00am CDT

MagicSchool Teacher Level 2: Level Up Your AI-Powered Teaching

Monday July 13, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am CDT

Room 92

Ready to go beyond the basics? In this Level 2 session, educators will deepen their use of MagicSchool to design more targeted instruction, refine differentiation, and create higher-quality materials with greater efficiency. Learn how to customize outputs, build reusable workflows, and apply MagicSchool across planning, assessment, and student support. Walk away with advanced strategies that elevate your practice and maximize impact in the classroom.

Presenters

Destinie Thomas

Professional Learning and Community Engagement Specialist, MagicSchool AI

Monday July 13, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am CDT
Room 92

ELA ELL Math Science Social Studies

Level All Teachers, Elementary Teachers, Middle Teachers, High Teachers, Career Tech Teachers, Special Education

11:00am CDT

Just Add Games

Monday July 13, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am CDT

Room 17

The presentation explores the use of math games in secondary classrooms (6-12). Put those digital devices away because are talking actual games! We will be exploring how games can enhance student engagement and reinforce foundational skills that can be helpful in their current learning. Attendees will be able to participate in actual game play and debrief and collaborate on how they see these fitting into their current classroom environment.

Secondary students often lose the opportunity for play within the classroom and show a decreased motivation in mathematics. Math games provide an opportunity for active learning, problem-solving and critical thinking skills, and giving all learners the chance at low-stakes practice.

Presenters

Melissa Sessions

Teacher, Daphne Middle School

Monday July 13, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am CDT
Room 17

Math

Level Middle Teachers, High Teachers

11:00am CDT

Teaching for Understanding in Mathematics

Monday July 13, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am CDT

Room 253

Teaching for Understanding in Math is designed to help participants use Gizmos to help students reason mathematically and develop a deeper understanding of math concepts. The instructor discusses and models best practices for inquiry-based teaching with Gizmos in mathematics. Teachers learn how to use Gizmos to develop effective mathematics instruction that strengthens students' understanding of mathematics.

Presenters

Tiffany Christian

Professional Learning Manager, ExploreLearning

Monday July 13, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am CDT
Room 253

Math

Level Middle Teachers, High Teachers

11:00am CDT

K-6 Math Evidence Based Practice #1: Systematic Instruction

Monday July 13, 2026 11:00am - 12:50pm CDT

Room 270

Join the the Office of Mathematics Improvement to take a dive into Evidence Based Practice #1, Systematic Instruction. Unlock the power of Systematic Instruction! Learn how clear goals, sequenced steps, scaffolds, and timely feedback boost student success. Walk away with practical tools and fresh ideas to energize your teaching!

Presenters

Connie Arnold

OMI Region 10 Coordinator, Office of Mathematics Improvement

Connie Arnold is the Regional Coordinator for the Office of Mathematics Improvement (OMI) at the Alabama State Department of Education. With over 15 years of experience in education, she has served as a classroom teacher, librarian, and Secondary Math Specialist with the Alabama... Read More →

Monday July 13, 2026 11:00am - 12:50pm CDT
Room 270

Math

Level Elementary Teachers, Special Education

12:00pm CDT

In District Fundraising for Clubs/Teams

Monday July 13, 2026 12:00pm - 12:50pm CDT

Room 255

Baldwin County Public School’s After School Care program introduces the In-District Contract. These contracts allow high school and middle school organizations to earn funds by making presentations and teaching lessons to elementary school students during the After School program. These contracts are available for summer, fall, and spring semesters, offering opportunities for all groups to earn money for their organizations and recruit future members.

Presenters

Jacque Helms

ASC Coordinator, Central Office Staff

Monday July 13, 2026 12:00pm - 12:50pm CDT
Room 255

12:00pm CDT

Math Therapy: Adding Confidence, Subtracting Fear

Monday July 13, 2026 12:00pm - 12:50pm CDT

Room 269

How often have you heard someone say "I am bad at math"? In this session we will discuss what 'Math Therapy' is and how it looks inside your math classroom. We will explore math trauma, where is comes from, and the impact it has on our students. What can we do to help these students to believe and achieve! We will discuss some small changes that we can make inside our classroom to help support out students and build that math confidence. Come explore the 5 steps to helping student build a better relationship with math!

Presenters

Melissa Sessions

Teacher, Daphne Middle School

Monday July 13, 2026 12:00pm - 12:50pm CDT
Room 269

Behavior Community Building Math

Level All Teachers

12:00pm CDT

Set the Stage, Spark the Learning: Space + Strategy for Student Engagement

Monday July 13, 2026 12:00pm - 12:50pm CDT

Room 16

Bring learning to life! Discover how to turn standards into high-energy, engaging experiences through strategic instruction, flexible spaces, and impactful room transformations. Walk away with ready-to-use ideas that amplify student voice, support all learners, and make engagement the norm, not the exception.

Presenters

Sarah Nisewonger

Third Grade Teacher, Fairhope East Elementary

Sarah Nisewonger has been teaching for 12 years. After spending 11 years teaching first grade, she recently completed her first year as a third grade teacher at Fairhope East Elementary. She is EMINTS and Kagan trained, STEAM certified and attended the Ron Clark Academy, an experience... Read More →

Tori Erdossy

Monday July 13, 2026 12:00pm - 12:50pm CDT
Room 16

Community Building ELA eMINTS Math Reading Science Social Studies STEM/STEAM Technology

Level All Teachers, Pre-K Teachers, Elementary Teachers, Middle Teachers, High Teachers

12:00pm CDT

Math in Action - Kagan Engagement

Monday July 13, 2026 12:00pm - 12:50pm CDT

Room 91

My session is geared toward K-6 BCBE teachers. I will share how I use Kagan engagement strategies in the kindergarten classroom. The presentation will include several examples of math instruction as well as ways to incorporate the engagement strategies in ELA.

Presenters

Stephanie Merritt

Kindergarten Teacher, Jubilee Elementary

Monday July 13, 2026 12:00pm - 12:50pm CDT
Room 91

ELA Math

Level Elementary Teachers

12:00pm CDT

Level Up Learning with Explain Everything Whiteboard Activities

Monday July 13, 2026 12:00pm - 12:50pm CDT

Room 95

Ready for new ways to engage your students with more dynamic lessons? In this session, we'll explore the powerful tools and templates within Explain Everything to build effective, interactive activities. You'll leave with the confidence and practical skills to create your own high-quality, instructional content.

Presenters

Kristin Dupuy

Teaching & Learning Consultant, Trafera

Kristin is a former middle school educator from Ascension Parish with 17 years of classroom experience. She received her undergraduate degree from Louisiana Tech University and her graduate degree from Southeastern Louisiana University. Kristin has been honored with the title of Teacher... Read More →

Monday July 13, 2026 12:00pm - 12:50pm CDT
Room 95

ELA Math Science Social Studies

Level All Teachers

12:00pm CDT

7 Challenges that Showcase STEM in the Middle Grades (4-8)

Monday July 13, 2026 12:00pm - 1:50pm CDT

Room 254

Discover seven classroom-tested STEM missions designed to shift students from passive observers to active problem-solvers with minimal setup and maximum curiosity. In this session focused on middle grades (4-8) learning, participants will explore and adapt 7 ready-to-implement STEM challenges that directly connect math/science concepts to Alabama's new 2025 Digital Literacy & Computer Science (DLCS) Standards. These intentionally designed student activities promote collaboration and build skills like computational thinking, iterative processing, and real-world application of learning. This session will include time for unpacking grade level standards to make meaningful connections, trying out STEM challenges that increase student engagement, and collaborating on how to customize a STEM experience that lets students apply their math, science and engineering skills.

Presenters

Timothy Johnson

Regional Technology Specialist, Alabama Technology in Motion, Region 10

Angela Clark

Regional Technology Specialist, Alabama Technology in Motion, Region 7

Monday July 13, 2026 12:00pm - 1:50pm CDT
Room 254

Coding Community Building Makerspace Math Robotics Science Technology

Level Elementary Teachers, Middle Teachers, Librarians, Special Education

12:00pm CDT

AMSTI 3-5 Counting Collections and Choral Counting

Monday July 13, 2026 12:00pm - 3:00pm CDT

Room D - 9th Grade Academy

In this ½ day session participants will discuss the importance of counting and how fundamental it is to learning mathematics in elementary school. It is the basis upon which operations with whole numbers, estimation, and algebraic thinking build. Through the powerful instructional routines of Choral Counting and Counting Collections,
students are engaged in rich mathematics, which can be utilized to pursue a broad range of mathematical goals throughout the upper grades in elementary school. By increasing the magnitude of the counting collection or by including packaged items, students can explore several mathematical concepts and develop a deep, conceptual understanding of quantity. The math routines in this professional learning are tailored for grades 3-5.

Presenters

Jennifer Fagerstrom

AMSTI K-5 Math Mentoring Specialist, AMSTI

Monday July 13, 2026 12:00pm - 3:00pm CDT
Room D - 9th Grade Academy

Math

Level Elementary Teachers, Special Education

12:00pm CDT

AMSTI K-5 Math Alabama Course of Study Training

Monday July 13, 2026 12:00pm - 3:00pm CDT

Room B - 9th Grade Academy

Presenters

Candyce Tracy

AMSTI K-5 Math Mentoring Specialist, AMSTI

Monday July 13, 2026 12:00pm - 3:00pm CDT
Room B - 9th Grade Academy

Math

Level Elementary Teachers, Special Education

1:00pm CDT

Better Together - Using Star Assessments and Freckle

Monday July 13, 2026 1:00pm - 1:50pm CDT

Room 267

Identify where your students are, where they need to go, and how personalized practice can help get them there.
Session Goal: Pair Star Computer Adaptive Tests as a screener with Freckle as a targeted practice tool to enhance academic performance and track skill progress.
• Lesson A: Assessment-led Skills Practice: Explore assessment-led skills practice with Freckle and Star Computer Adaptive Tests.
• Lesson B: Star Screening Data: Use Recommended Skills and instructional groups in the Record Book.
• Lesson C: Freckle Targeted Practice: Assign targeted and Focus Skills practice to students based on Star CAT data.
• Lesson D: Monitoring Student Progress: Leverage the power of Renaissance Next and reports to effectively progress monitor your student's skills practice

Presenters

Dr. Kathi Reeves

Professional Learning Consultant, Renaissance Learning

Monday July 13, 2026 1:00pm - 1:50pm CDT
Room 267

Assessment Data ELA Math Technology

Level Administrators, All Teachers

1:00pm CDT

MagicSchool Student Level 1: Getting Started with AI for Learning

Monday July 13, 2026 1:00pm - 1:50pm CDT

Room 92

New to MagicStudent? This introductory session helps students and educators understand how to use AI as a tool for learning, not shortcuts. Explore how MagicStudent can support brainstorming, studying, writing, and organization while promoting responsible and ethical use. Walk away with simple, practical ways to help students build confidence, stay engaged, and use AI to enhance—not replace—their thinking.

Presenters

Destinie Thomas

Professional Learning and Community Engagement Specialist, MagicSchool AI

Monday July 13, 2026 1:00pm - 1:50pm CDT
Room 92

ELA ELL Math Science Social Studies Technology

Level All Teachers, Elementary Teachers, Middle Teachers, High Teachers, Career Tech Teachers, Librarians, Special Education

1:00pm CDT

Teach Smarter, Not Harder: Curriculum‑Aligned Content with Discovery Education

Monday July 13, 2026 1:00pm - 1:50pm CDT

Room 255

Discover how Discovery Education simplifies planning with ready‑to‑use, standards‑aligned videos, activities, and lesson supports across all subjects K-12. Walk away with resources you can teach with tomorrow.

Presenters

Tomi Rush

Sr. Partner Success Manager, Discovery Education

Monday July 13, 2026 1:00pm - 1:50pm CDT
Room 255

ELA ELL Math Science Social Studies Technology

Level Administrators, All Teachers, Counselors, Librarians, Special Education

1:00pm CDT

Every Student Engaged, Every Lesson--A Taste of Kagan Cooperative Learning

Monday July 13, 2026 1:00pm - 2:50pm CDT

Room 271

Presenters

Aaron Diaz

Director of Implementation Support, Kagan Publishing and Professional Development

Monday July 13, 2026 1:00pm - 2:50pm CDT
Room 271

Arts Community Building ELA ELL Math Reading Science Social Studies

Level Administrators, Central Office, All Teachers, Special Education

1:00pm CDT

Illuminated Learning: Engaging Students with Blacklight Activities

Monday July 13, 2026 1:00pm - 2:50pm CDT

Room 45 - Art Room

In this interactive workshop, educators will discover how blacklight activities can boost student engagement across subjects.
Learn the science behind UV light, explore creative lesson ideas, and see hands-on demos with fluorescent materials, invisible ink, and glow-in-the-dark elements.
After exploring classroom applications, participants will take part in a printmaking activity under blacklight and experiment with a variety of fluorescent and neon art materials.
Teachers will leave with practical, ready-to-use strategies, along with a product list and links to all materials used in the workshop.

Presenters

Joyce Garrison

teacher, Rosinton Elementary

Hello!I am excited to be returning to GRITC as a presenter!
I graduated with my bachelors of fine art and master's of education from the University of Montevallo, which is located in Montevallo, AL.
I am married and we live in Loxley. I teach elementary art and I absolutely love it... Read More →

Nancy Timmons

Middle School Art Teacher, Central Baldwin Middle

I have been teaching visual arts in Baldwin County for seven years, working with students from Pre-K through 8th grade. I studied art, religion, and philosophy at the University of West Florida and currently teach 8th grade art, where I enjoy blending creative skill-building with... Read More →

Monday July 13, 2026 1:00pm - 2:50pm CDT
Room 45 - Art Room

Arts ELA Math Science Social Studies STEM/STEAM

Level All Teachers, Elementary Teachers, Middle Teachers, High Teachers, Counselors, Librarians, Special Education

1:00pm CDT

K-6 Math Evidence Based Practice #2: Multimodal Instruction

Monday July 13, 2026 1:00pm - 2:50pm CDT

Room 270

Join the the Office of Mathematics Improvement to take a dive into Evidence Based Practice #1, Multimodal Instruction. Make math meaningful with Multimodal Instruction! Use hands-on tools, visuals, symbols, and talk to support all learners. Help students deepen their understanding and apply math in real-world ways.

Presenters

Connie Arnold

OMI Region 10 Coordinator, Office of Mathematics Improvement

Monday July 13, 2026 1:00pm - 2:50pm CDT
Room 270

Math

Level Elementary Teachers, Special Education

1:00pm CDT

From Grip to Growth: Fine Motor Skills that Power Classroom Success in K-1

Monday July 13, 2026 1:00pm - 3:00pm CDT

Room 268

Presenters

Mandi Boyd

Hand2Mind Rep, Hand2Mind

Kayla Benak

Hand2Mind Educational Consultant, Hand2Mind

Monday July 13, 2026 1:00pm - 3:00pm CDT
Room 268

ELA Math

Level Elementary Teachers

1:00pm CDT

Math Language Traps for English Language Learners in K-6

Monday July 13, 2026 1:00pm - 3:00pm CDT

Room 20

English learners have to juggle learning math and a new language at the same time. In this session, participants will look at math tasks through the lens of language traps. Teachers will learn practical strategies for identifying and addressing a number of hidden barriers that interfere with an English learner’s ability to access the task and demonstrate their understanding.

Presenters

Danielle White

ALSDE ESL Education Specialist, ALSDE ESL Department, Region 10

Monday July 13, 2026 1:00pm - 3:00pm CDT
Room 20

ELL Math

Level Elementary Teachers

2:00pm CDT

Basics to Breakthroughs: Designing intentional learning with Kami

Monday July 13, 2026 2:00pm - 2:50pm CDT

Room 254

Join us to explore how to strategically leverage Kami’s features to create highly engaging, personalized learning experiences. In this hands-on session, you will learn to create custom content scaffolding and provide critical, in-the-moment student support. We will discuss how to use Kami tools to tailor the environment for every learner. You’ll leave with a versatile toolkit of instructional strategies and a proven roadmap for fostering student independence.

Presenters

Janet Burnett

Teaching & Learning Coordinator, Book Creator/Kami

Monday July 13, 2026 2:00pm - 2:50pm CDT
Room 254

Assessment Chromebook Digital Citizenship ELA ELL Guided Reading Math Reading Science Social Studies Technology

Level All Teachers, Counselors, Librarians, Special Education

2:00pm CDT

Interpreting Student Data in Freckle

Monday July 13, 2026 2:00pm - 2:50pm CDT

Room 267

Master the essential Freckle reports and data views that can help you analyze student performance and take strategic actions to accelerate student growth.
Session Goal: Inform instructional decisions using student data in Freckle.
• Lesson A: Key Student Data in Freckle Navigate essential reports and data views in Freckle.
• Lesson B: Leverage Freckle Data Take strategic action based on student data in Freckle.
• Lesson C: Additional Freckle Data Access supplemental and specialized data displays in Freckle

Presenters

Dr. Kathi Reeves

Professional Learning Consultant, Renaissance Learning

Monday July 13, 2026 2:00pm - 2:50pm CDT
Room 267

Data ELA Math Technology

Level Administrators, All Teachers

2:00pm CDT

Revolutionary Writing: Helping Students Think Through Sentences

Monday July 13, 2026 2:00pm - 2:50pm CDT

Room 16

Strong writing begins with strong thinking. This session introduces the Writing Revolution (Hochman Method) and shows how explicit sentence-level instruction improves student writing across all subjects. Teachers will learn practical strategies that support struggling writers while strengthening academic writing for all learners.

Presenters

Stacey Tatum

6th Grade Science/Social Studies, Elberta Elementary

Hello! My name is Stacey Tatum, and I am a 6th Grade Science and Social Studies teacher at Elberta Elementary School. This year marks my second year teaching 6th grade after spending several years in 3rd grade, where I developed a deep passion for understanding how students learn... Read More →

Monday July 13, 2026 2:00pm - 2:50pm CDT
Room 16

Differentiation ELA Math Reading Science Social Studies

Level All Teachers, Elementary Teachers, Middle Teachers, High Teachers

2:00pm CDT

MagicSchool Student Level 2: Deeper Learning with AI-Powered Support

Monday July 13, 2026 2:00pm - 2:50pm CDT

Room 92

Take student learning to the next level with MagicStudent. In this session, participants will explore more advanced ways students can use AI to strengthen critical thinking, refine writing, and engage in meaningful problem-solving. Learn how to guide students in using AI for feedback, revision, and deeper understanding—while reinforcing academic integrity. Walk away with practical strategies to help students use MagicStudent as a true learning partner.

Presenters

Destinie Thomas

Professional Learning and Community Engagement Specialist, MagicSchool AI

Monday July 13, 2026 2:00pm - 2:50pm CDT
Room 92

Digital Citizenship ELA ELL Math Science Social Studies Technology

Level All Teachers, Elementary Teachers, Middle Teachers, High Teachers, Career Tech Teachers, Librarians, Special Education

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